Nan Shiqing’s words were final.
She almost believed it herself.
For the sake of her reputation, she had even cursed herself…
But what else could she do? With her mother cleaning up her messes later, all she had to do was deny everything. By then, Fu Siye would regret his current suspicions as much as he now doubted her.
She was already looking forward to that moment.
“I understand,” Fu Siye said, nothing more.
Nan Shiqing smiled, “Then, you continue with your work. I have nothing else to do. I… won’t disturb you.”
The latter words were understanding and heart-wrenching.
Fu Siye’s gaze sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, “Don’t do anything foolish.”
“I won’t. I can’t let my family worry about me, nor can I make you sad.” Nan Shiqing’s voice, though tinged with sorrow, carried a hint of strength. She continued, “Then, I’ll hang up now. I don’t want you to worry about me. Siye, you’re busy. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m a bit sleepy, I’ll rest for a while.”
Before Fu Siye could respond, she hung up the phone.
Nan Shiqing’s lips curved. Her acting just now, she believed, would surely salvage some part of the situation. From the very beginning, without uttering a word of complaint, she had made Fu Siye understand just how wronged she felt. My, she was almost impressed with her own acting!
The next moment, Nan Shiqing lay down on her bed and opened Weibo. She didn’t rush to post anything, but instead scrolled through. The online commentary was relentless, one wave after another.
The accusations against her and Mu Yinyin were already significant:
—XX: [I refuse to believe she is Y. Y is a famous designer, not some fool. I’ve had someone investigate. Nan Shiqing isn't even her biological sister, so why would she ghostwrite for someone unrelated to her, with no benefit whatsoever!]
—XX: [If Nan Shiqing can ghostwrite and orchestrate such a deception, should the internal staff of Juxing be investigated and provide an explanation to us contestants?]
—XX: [If Nan Shiqing can ghostwrite and plagiarize, why can't Mu Yinyin? Did you all not know? Even negative attention is still attention. These two sisters just want to attract attention!]
—XX: [It seems they are still staying in the hotel. Get out! Seeing copycats makes me sick!]
If this were before, she might have lost control. But now, with her mother as her backing, she felt secure. After a moment of thought, she began to draft her post.
—Nan Shiqing: [Sister, regarding today’s events, I still want to apologize to you. The reason I’m posting this is because the situation has blown up so much, and I don’t want everyone to think we sisters have no affection for each other. We are still good sisters, right? Sister, I shouldn’t have been so impulsive towards you today. I was foolish, didn't know my place, and was ungrateful. Sister, won't you scold me to vent your anger and not ignore me? I'm sorry, will you still recognize me as your sister? Sister, I love you…]
After posting, the smile on Nan Shiqing’s lips deepened. With everything settled, all she needed now was for her mother to provide the final push!
All she had to do was wait for the next competition with peace of mind.
…
As soon as Nan Shiqing’s Weibo post went live, it immediately caused an uproar among netizens. Both opposing and supporting viewpoints quickly propelled her post to the top of the trending searches.
Fu Siye, naturally, saw the Weibo post and the top comments below it:
—XX: [The situation has reached this point, Nan Shiqing can’t possibly be crying wolf, can she? She’s publicly apologizing and trying so hard to salvage their sisterly bond. What about Mu Yinyin? By causing such trouble at this venue, she’s completely disregarding Nan Shiqing’s future and even her life. Can’t people tell who is telling the truth and who isn’t?]
—XX: [Actions speak louder than words. As of now, Juxing hasn't fired Nan Shiqing. Juxing is a giant in the design industry; how could they possibly allow a plagiarist to exist?]
—XX: [When accusing someone of plagiarism or ghostwriting, evidence is paramount. Look at the novel and TV drama industries; it's just similar concepts. Are we going to ruin an excellent designer's career because of a resemblance?]
…
These trending comments included supporters of Nan Shiqing, those who stood with Mu Yinyin, and neutral observers.
Fu Siye’s expression was complex as he read them.
Even now, Nan Shiqing cared about her sisterly bond with Mu Yinyin, posting an apology to her.
And Mu Yinyin?
By orchestrating such a scene in the design competition, she wasn’t just destroying Nan Shiqing’s future but also pushing her towards death.
Fu Siye’s gaze grew increasingly somber. His well-defined fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, as if he were contemplating something.
…
At that moment, Juxing suddenly released a statement:
[There is no substantial evidence of ghostwriting or plagiarism. We do not wish to disqualify an excellent designer from the competition based on a few color palettes. We will skip this segment and move on to the second challenge, where ability will speak for itself.]
This was the result of discussions among many Juxing judges and high-level executives.
This statement immediately delighted Nan Shiqing.
As long as her participation qualification remained, she could still turn the situation around. She no longer feared anything.
She immediately edited a text message and sent it to Fu Siye:
—Nan Shiqing: [Siye, fortunately, Juxing did not disqualify me due to public opinion. I’m very happy. Siye, I will definitely prove myself!]
Nan Shiqing also sent a cheering emoji.
Fu Siye knew she was trying to rally her own spirits and sought his support.
His mind even conjured an image of her resolute determination.
He felt a pang of sympathy, and he also considered a point: how could someone who braved a burning building to save another, disregarding her own life, be as despicable as Mu Yinyin claimed?
Ghostwriting seemed more like something Mu Yinyin would do, as she had shown no particular talent in design from the beginning.
With this thought, he replied to Nan Shiqing’s text:
—Fu Siye: [Then, do your best.]
—Nan Shiqing: [Mhm, I will definitely prove myself!]
Nan Shiqing, who had been in a state of anxiety, came alive upon seeing this message.
She knew that with her backing, her acting would definitely pass muster!
Fu Siye had indeed been swayed by her and believed her.
Without further thought, her phone suddenly vibrated again. Nan Shiqing thought it was Fu Siye and quickly opened it, only to find it was from her mother.
—He Xia: [From now on, you cannot act impulsively in anything you do. You must discuss everything with me. The online trolls have already started stirring. If you don't listen to me, I’ll act as if I never gave birth to you!]